The — stationed at Liberty High School and Broughal, East Hills, Nitschmann and Northeast middle schools — all started last month and will serve at least through the 2016-17 school year, officials said today.

Liberty already had one school resource officer and Freedom High School and the Bethlehem Area Vocational Technical Schoo had school resource officers through prior agreements between the school district, Bethlehem and Bethlehem Township, where Freedom and the vo-tech are located.

Bethlehem's middle schools haven't had school resource officers since the 2010-11 school year because of funding challenges. The city hopes to reapply for the federal grant in the future to continue the program, DiLuzio said.

The officers don't just combat crimes in the schools — they also serve as counselors, spread anti-gang messages and make students feel more comfortable with police officers, officials said.

"The school resource officers act as ambassadors to form positive relationships," Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez said.

Having safe schools encourages both companies and middle-class families to consider moving into the city, which is important for economic growth, Donchez said.